presently mounted a swift horse that was in readiness for her, and galloped off to Niddry Castle, in West Lothian, from which place she went, on the following day, to Hamilton. "The news of their escape seemed to awake, in the hearts of Mary's subjects, the last spark of their expiring loyalty. Her people now remembered her gentleness, the sweetness of her manners, her grace and beauty; and though they could not but remember her errors too, yet her subsequent misfortunes seemed to have in some measure atoned for the past, while her youth still afforded hope for the future. But five days had passed since Mary was a joyless captive in a lonely tower, and now her changing fortunes placed her at the head of a powerful confederacy, including nine earls, nine bishops, eighteen lords, and many gentlemen of rank, all engaged to defend her person and restore her crown. "It was the intention of the queen to seek refuge in the strong castle of Dumbarton; and her army, under the Earl of Argyle, proposed to carry her to that place of security in a style of triumph. The regent was then at Glasgow with forces inferior to her own; but with confidence in his own military skill, as well as in the valour of the leaders of his party, and in their experienced soldiers, he determined to meet the queen's army in their intended march, and to give them battle. Murray accordingly occupied the village of Langside, full in the |